A new adventure ahead...

There is a new adventure ahead of me.  While I have absolutely loved my time in Houston (and would recommend this city to anyone who is interested), I have been given an opportunity that I just can't pass up.  So, at the end of this month this blog will transition in a new exploration.

I shall miss all of the things that have made this city great.  The Art Car Parade, the Bayou City Art Festival, trips to Galveston, the rows and rows of restaurants, and especially Miller Outdoor Theater.

The hospitality of the folks of Houston is something I will always appreciate.  The forth largest city in the United States has many things to be very proud of and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself here.

Salut!
New Blog for a new adventure - The Corn Bred Kid in Cali

The Banana car is a four seater...

Now, before I start down the story of this post you have to understand a few geographical items regarding the Art Car Parade (put on by the wonderfully interesting Orange Show Center for the Visual Arts) on Saturday...


First off, the parade route covers a strip of land about a mile and a half in length.  It runs along side Buffalo Bayou Park on a street called Allen Parkway right next to the downtown/theater district.  The parade starts at one end and then loops around and comes back again.  Got that...?

Okay, so I get my directions and was told that the booth was at the beginning of the parade route.  I park my car at one end on Montrose and start to hoof it to the booth.  On the way, I see a police officer and ask him where the parade route is; I explain that I am going to be volunteering at one of the beer tents.  He laughs and says "Oh, you are on the wrong end of the route" and highly recommends that I park my car on the other end because that is where all of the vendors are going to be.  Well, you can see where all of this is going...

I park on the other end, walk the half-mile to the parade route because that end is touching downtown and parking is at a premium.  Once I get to the parade route, I find out that the 14 Pews booth is located right by where I originally parked ( a mile and a half away)... Oh well.  It was good exercise.

The other half of this story is that after my shift was over (still before the parade started), I had to make the trek back to the car.  Now you may think that I would have been a bit perturbed at having to make the hike, but it gave me a wonderful opportunity.  You see, by walking back through the parade route I got to review up close all of the wonderful cars that took part in the parade and talk to some very interesting people.

These folks are absolutely wonderfully nuts and were having a ball!  Around 250 cars participated in the parade.  There were zombie cars, a car that was covered completely in marshmallow peeps, a pole dancing zebra on top of a car, a car that looked like a cockroach, and so many more.

I think that the two mile walk back to my car may have been the best part of the day (although I met a very interesting poet that I enjoyed talking to at the tent).  I will also admit that I was a bit tired and sore the next day, but it was really worth it.

Here is a link to the 2013 line-up.  Can't wait till next year...

Wow! What a weekend ahead...

This weekend is the Houston Art Car Parade.  As you can tell by the image, local artists turn cars into works of art and they have a parade.  I have been told that this event is one of the best parties in Houston.  I will be working a beer truck (#8) starting at 8:30 in the morning on Saturday.  14 Pews get a portion of the proceeds. Evidently the truck is at the beginning of the parade, so I will get a chance to enjoy the cars as they drive by.

I have also been told (and is verified by the website) that the folks that show up for the event are many times just as decorated.  Gotta love it, but that is just one of the things going on.

I know that i have written before about the Miller Outdoor Auditorium.  Well this Friday night, my butt will be planted in the grass to enjoy the Houston Ballet performing Madam Butterfly.  It is simply amazing and wonderful to me that a major ballet company like the Houston Ballet would do a free performance for the community.  Not only that but next weekend I will be there because the Houston Grand Opera will be performing La Boheme at the auditorium.  I am genuinely excited.

That is one thing that does set Houston apart.  The Houston community embraces the arts here and the arts community embraces right back.

Okay, now in my excitement I forgot to mention that I want to go to a free Drive-in movie on Saturday night and on Sunday there are two competing events - the Galveston Historic Home tour with some really outstanding late 19th Century homes on display.  There is also the Pop Shop Houston which is described as a "twice-a-year indie craft fair, art and music Festival."

This is going to be great!  Come by the beer truck and help raise some funds for 14 Pews.